Splatoon 2 Getting A Big Update, Give Thanks For More Free Stuff

The hype may have died down for Splatoon 2, but it continues to be a quirky and fun experience with a consistently strong community, due in large part to the steady stream of updates. New modes, maps, weapons and gameplay tweaks help sustain enthusiasm.

Producer Hisashi Nogami told The Verge that there's only been one point when the game saw a large decline in active players. “It is true that when Super Mario Odyssey launched, we saw fewer than normal users logging on to play the game.”

This week, though, will see a massive update that will most certainly reignite excitement for this unique squid kid shooter. New maps, an increased level cap, more hairstyles, more music and over a hundred new pieces of gear.

It's all leading up to the addition of a new competitive mode in December, which will certainly make Splatoon 2 a more attractive purchase for the holidays, which is when Nintendo is guaranteed to sell a hell of a lot more units of the Switch.

The first part of the update arrives November 23rd. Fan favorite clothing options from the original Splatoon will return, as well as season appropriate clothing like cozy sweaters and warm jackets. The level cap will be raised from 50 to 99, and a nice quality of life improvement will be the ability to switch up your gear without having to leave the multiplayer lobby.

The following day of the 24th, will mark the beginning of four new maps being rolled out on a weekly basis. The first is called “MakoMart,” and takes place in a big-box retail store, just in time to simulate where most Americans will be spending their Black Friday. Successive maps will include a museum, a shopping mall and a warehouse.

Then in mid-December, Nintendo will release Splatoon 2’s fourth ranked battle mode, called “clam blitz.” Here’s how the company describes it:

In “clam blitz,’ competing inklings are tasked with collecting clams scattered around the stage. After one is picked up, the clam follows the player. The objective is to throw the clam into the basket near the opponent’s base. The first team to score 100 points wins. But, of course, this being the fiercely competitive world of Splatoon 2, things are not as easy as they seem. The baskets are protected by a barrier, which must be destroyed first. After collecting 10 clams, the player will earn a power clam. These super-powered clams are the key to breaking the barrier, so strategy will definitely be involved in which clams are used to destroy the barrier and which are used to earn points.

These updates are expected to keep things going until around February of next year, and Nintendo has said that it plans to keep supporting the game for a year after launch. There's a possibility that updates could extend further than that. Fans should keep their fingers crossed.

Splatoon 2 is one of a few new games that reflects Nintendo's newfound interest in extending the buzz for games like Mario Kart 8, Arms and Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild with continuous updates and added content.